Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) flower [UV]

Description

Title:

Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) flower [UV]

Caption / Description:

Ultraviolet photo of a Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) flower and flower buds. The flower has very visible UV markings on the petals, being darker around the base of the petals and lighter at the tips. It is thought these markings, only visible in ultraviolet may help insects (that can see UV light) hone in on the centre of the flower.

The sexual parts of the flower (at the centre) all appear much darker in ultraviolet than they do in visible light.